Why Athletic Trainers Love What They Do!

A special roundup from our T-shirt giveaway contest

We asked... and wow, did the Athletic Training community answer!

As part of our recent giveaway, we asked Athletic Trainers to tell us: “What do you love about being an AT?” Dozens of you shared heartfelt, inspiring, and often downright tear-jerking responses.

From the sidelines to the classroom, from injury prevention to emotional support, it’s clear just how deeply ATs care for their athletes. And how much this profession means to you.

Here’s what you had to say:

@CT the AT: I love being a support system for my athletes and being able to provide healthcare services to those who may have a financial barrier that makes other healthcare services less accessible.

@jenniferbackus: I love being an athletic trainer at the secondary school setting because of the relationships you make with the student athletes. We are a part of some of the hardest moments in these young careers and sometimes are the listening ear. It amazes me every year, after kids graduate, how many past athletes come to games and come have a conversation with their past athletic trainer. Such a full circle moment to see these past athletes make something of themselves outside of the field, court, or pool. ❤

@Danae Dian Tuhn: I love being an athletic trainer because I get to protect athletes, keep them at their best, and be there for every setback and comeback—it’s about making a real difference, not just treating injuries.

@Cierra: I love being an athletic trainer because I grew up in a sport that notoriously abandons athlete health. Now I get to be part of a change and advocate for athletes so they can be healthy in and outside of their sport!

@aimeeatc: I love being an Athletic Trainer because it allows me to be a part of something bigger than myself. Every day I get the chance to support athletes not just in their performance, but in their growth as individuals. I value the trust that comes with being the person they turn to when they’re hurt, frustrated, or in need of encouragement.

@Thunda_Beef: I love athletic training because it lets me do what I’ve always wanted—care for people and be there when they need someone the most. To me, it’s not just about taping an ankle or rehabbing an injury; it’s about showing athletes that they’re not alone. I want to be the person they can lean on, whether it’s for help, encouragement, or even just to rant after a tough day. Being there for someone in their highest highs and lowest lows is what makes this profession so special to me. Athletic training gives me the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives, and that’s why I love it.

@v.davis.26: I love being an athletic trainer because I get to be a part of something so much bigger and play a part in making a difference in others’ lives—someone that the athletes can feel comfortable coming to, through the highs and the lows.

@meelz13: I work in a high school/middle school. I love my job because my athletes are the best part of my day—they teach me something new and help me be a better person and clinician every day. :)

@amallflo: I love that as an athletic trainer, we stand in the gap between crisis and response. I am able to advocate for my athletes, celebrate their success, provide safe spaces for hurting athletes, and grow as a person as I learn from fellow ATs, coaches, and from the students. I am proud to work as an outreach AT. I love what I do!

@ashley.herold: Spending quality time with the athletes every day is my favorite part because they integrate you into their daily lives through conversations and often want advice and/or support with things that matter the most to them through their sport and just life in general.

@Shay: Working in a high school, I love that I get to be like a parent, friend, mentor, teacher, cheerleader, and everything in between—and I love knowing that I’m making a difference in their lives.

@Cait: I love being an athletic trainer because I get the chance to give back to my community by taking care of my hometown athletes. I am fortunate enough to be the AT of my alma mater and there’s just something special about seeing the sidelines from another perspective while being the main healthcare provider of all of our teams.

@Savannah: I became an AT because it’s the only profession where you get to work with athletes before they’re ever a patient, work one on one every single day when they’re at their worst, and then stand by them when they get back to their sport. That is so special.

@Kendell Wilson: I love being an Athletic Trainer in the high school setting because I can be hands-on. It is my first year as a certified AT and my team is riddled with season-ending injuries, but I know I am the one person they can turn to that truly cares about their well-being and is rooting for them day in and day out. I can’t wait to see all of my athletes make their return to playing in the following years, making big plays and knowing I had a hand in that.

@DestinyPfliiger: I love being an athletic trainer because I get to continue my love for sports vicariously through the athletes I serve daily, which sets my standards high. The athletic training profession allows me to make an impact in the community and people around me. I love walking into work knowing I wear many hats—medic, counselor, magician (at times)—and that I’m able to support each athlete, parent, and coach in any way possible!

@andria_at: I love being an athletic trainer because I get to help people from all different backgrounds and walks of life keep doing what they love to do safely. 💕

@Kiki-kitties: I love being a High School Athletic Trainer because I get to teach growing children more about their bodies while also reducing their pain and getting them back on the field—stuff I did not really understand or get to understand as an athlete at that time.

@Imani 🫶🏽: I love being a collegiate athletic trainer at an HBCU because I have the opportunity to advocate for student-athlete health in places where resources may not always match larger programs, which makes the work I do even more impactful.

@boo.becca00: I became an athletic trainer for so many reasons. I first got on this path when I suffered a career-ending injury in college when I was told I would never be able to play softball again. My athletic trainer found my injury, got me the best care, and counseled me through the psychological part of my injury as well as the physical. Once I entered the profession, I loved seeing the people I work with get back to what they were doing—seeing not only the effort I made, but also the effort they made to contribute to their success. Now I get to do what my athletic trainer did for me and support athletes not only physically but also emotionally as they go through a difficult journey.

@NickiATC31: The relationships I get to build with my athletes and coaches are invaluable. Even though I hope they never get hurt, it’s inevitable, and being able to offer support mentally, emotionally, and physically is why I got into this profession in the first place.

@brittanydelaney75: I love being an athletic trainer because it combines my two favorite things—sports and medicine. I love that my athletes, coaches, and parents trust in me to provide the best care to keep their athletes competing and, when an injury occurs, trust me to put my all into getting them back on the field. Now that I am further into my career and have children of my own, my kids think I’m the coolest on the sideline because their mom is the “team doctor,” lol. My kids are 4 and 6. 😂

@Lauren Marie Doli336: I love being an athletic trainer because I am not only their healthcare professional to help with injuries, but also their friend, their shoulder to cry on, their listening ear, and more importantly, their biggest fan! It’s not just seeing them return to the field after a season-ending injury—it’s watching them grow into young, mature men and women, graduate, and be a light in the world! I love being an athletic trainer!

@Kshendo26: I love being an AT because I get to make a difference in all of my kids’ lives! They are my whole why.

@Momof2 🇺🇸🫶🏼: Because I get to travel to cool places, watch sports from the best seat in the house, and watch people I’ve grown close to do the things they love to do! I get my joy from seeing others do what brings them joy.

@Emelo18: I love the full circle moments—beginning to end of the injury—supporting them on and off the field and just being an advocate for my student athletes when no one else will be.

@Adam&Tina: I love being an AT because I get to make a difference in so many kids’ lives. Our school has been through a lot of tragedy this past year, losing three athletes in car accidents and injuring four others. We are a small school, and seeing this community come together—and getting to be a part of helping these kids come back from that and just be there for them—is a blessing. Being able to be the person that gives them the assurance that they are okay when something happens and then watching them go out and nail an awesome play is rewarding, to say the least.

@allisonbmeyer: Making the switch to HR!! I love being an AT because helping someone rehabilitate after experiencing a life-altering injury and hitting milestones (full flexion post-ACLR) fills me with so much joy I cry about it.

@Alex Chierichella: I love being an athletic trainer because I love the new relationships I make with each athlete! You can help make such a difference with each athlete, no matter how little or how big of a role you play with them—getting them back to sport after an injury and being a constant support system. Love my athletes!

@Ali: I love being an AT because I can see my kids through some of the best times of their life, but also some of the worst. I love being a safe place for them and someone they can confide in.

@Erin Samuels: I love being an AT because I have the best job in the world—shaping young kids to be better athletes and to help them trust athletic trainers and healthcare providers. Also, I get paid to be on the sidelines and watch games—what other job is that cool?

@Monica: I love my career because I get to help make a difference in the lives of the young kids in my community! Bringing healthcare to athletics. 👏

@athletictrainerwizard: I love being an ATC for the positive impact I can make on young lives. My relationships with my teams go a long way—from simply taping an ankle to returning them to play after a long-term injury. 💖

@Julie Griffin: I love being an athletic trainer because I get to help people through some of their toughest moments and support them as they come back stronger. It’s rewarding to combine my knowledge of injury care with a real connection to the athletes I work with. Every day brings new challenges, and I love being part of a team that values resilience, growth, and dedication.

@Marc: I love being an ATC because I impact many different sports and ages. Plus, I give them support when they need it most.

@Kar: Short answer: my athletes. Long answer: being the person your athletes can come to for anything and everything. Celebrating the highs and helping them through the lows.

@brooke: I love being an AT because of my athletes! It is so much fun getting to know them on a deeper level, seeing them excel in both school and sports, and trying my best to make a positive impact on their lives!

@KaPow32: The relationships I build with my athletes is by far my favorite part of the job!! And getting to see the progress from injury to RTP—I may or may not have teared up today when a post-ACL returned to their first game back!!

@kymichelle36atc: I love being an Athletic Trainer because I get to be one of the Swiss Army knives of healthcare. 🛠️ Every day brings something new, whether it's injury prevention, emergency care, rehab, or just being there as a consistent support system for my athletes. Athletic trainers are taping ankles one minute, managing concussions the next, splinting a fracture third, rehabbing fourth, coordinating care across a team of healthcare professionals fifth—and often doing some of these at the same time! It’s not just about the sidelines; it’s about showing up, adapting, and making a real impact on our athletes’ performance and well-being. That’s why I love being an athletic trainer. 🌈🫡🫶🏽

@Oscar: I love it because I’m there for my athletes for everything—from being healthy to injury to pre/post-op, rehab, and return to play. As an AT I’m the staff’s first line of communication and support and I help them out with whatever I can and educate them on what’s going on. Apart from that, it’s making connections and learning in an ever-expanding field in which there is always something new to learn. We are teachers, first responders, and support for our athletes/patients, staff, and other ATs in the field!

@skylarrrrr05: I love being an athletic trainer because I get to help and take care of people while watching kids live out their athletic dreams and helping them reach their fullest potential. It’s really a dream come true—I love my job and all my student athletes. 🥰

@Morgan Webb: I love being an athletic trainer because the relationships I build with my patients mean more than the success of the sport. Making a lasting impact on my patients the same way they do for me means the world. (Also, the heckling on the sideline during JV FB games is hilarious.)

@MaKayla Rogers: I love the relationships I get to build and getting to be there for my athletes through the good and bad times. I love being a safe space for them and getting them back to the field/court.

@Troy Hoehn: I love being an AT because of the impact we make at not only the high school level, but the impact on the entire community when it comes to providing healthcare!

@Robert Johnson, ATC, LAT: For me it’s all the little things that come with this job that end up having the biggest impact on our athletes and community. This is my 4th year as the first AT at my current school. The amount of kids I’ve had say they want to be an AT and ask questions on how to get here is probably one of my favorite things—just showing up and putting in the work.

@emillertime: I love being an athletic trainer because I get to help kids and families navigate what could be their biggest challenge and return to participating in the sport they love.

@Izzie Haynie: Nothing better than seeing an athlete return to play after a devastating injury. We see them at their lowest, and being able to celebrate their victories on and off the court makes all the late nights and early mornings worth it.

@Morgan jenkins: I love being an athletic trainer because I get to make so many connections with others. I’m a trusted adult for inner city high schoolers who may not have that in their life. I love teaching them about their health and wellness, injuries, and life—and having fun along the way, of course!

@Dayna Kornau: I love being an AT because of the relationships I get to build with my athletes. Helping them through an injury and seeing them get back is amazing!

@Ethan Fleming: I love being an athletic trainer because I feel like I get the opportunity to make a difference every day!

@Jane Wolterink: I love being an athletic trainer because I can be a resource for mental health, any injury, and support for return to play.

@Josh: Because of the relationships I’m able to have with the kids, parents, and our coaches. The way we all come together for good and bad news—and the support I get from my school.

@Brittanee: I’ll say this all the time: I love being an AT because it’s a profession where you can make an impactful difference. I love that we can be there for an athlete before, during, and after an injury and know we built that relationship that everyone can trust and depend on! 🥰

@Rebecca McLeod503: I love working with high school athletes. They drive me crazy, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. They bring so much happiness to my day and life.

@Nikki Rowland: I love the relationships I get to build—students, parents, coaches, and admin. All types of people!!

@theresaburgess259: I became an athletic trainer because I needed to keep movement in my life—but this career specifically because I knew I always wanted to help people. I strive to make my room the safest spot for all my athletes, somewhere they can grow, heal, and not be afraid of judgment in order to prosper. 💙

@Bailee Deaver: I love being an athletic trainer because every day I get to be a part of something bigger than myself. From helping athletes reach their goals, to being there in the tough moments when injuries happen, to celebrating their comebacks—I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s not just about taping ankles or being on the sidelines; it’s about building relationships, supporting dreams, and making a difference in the lives of the athletes I work with. Grateful for the profession, the people, and the purpose it brings me every day.

Whew! That's a long list! Glad you stuck around to the end! 

Every single response radiated passion, pride, and heart.

Thank you to all the ATs who entered. And thank you for all you do to keep your athletes safe, strong, and supported. T-shirts are headed out to the winners soon! 

The Healthy Roster team!